Peer-To-Peer Network
Peer
to peer network is an infrastructure which ensures that all devices on the
system are treated as equals sharing a wide range of network services between
each other. There is no centre to peer system, but some devices may offer
greater services than others. This ensures that users of many different
computers systems can join a simple network infrastructure.
Peer
networks are found in many situations. Four common examples:
·
A
private networks created at home to share an internet connection
·
Some
network gaming clans (teams who play networks games together)
·
A
small network in a company with fewer than ten computers
·
File-
and resource-sharing like BitTorrent, which are applications designed to ensure
that file sharing occurs.
The
advantage of peer-to-peer system is their technological simplicity – they are
easy to install, operate and manage. But their ability to scale (expand growth)
is restricted – it is accepted in the in the networking industry that 20
workstations is the reasonable maximum.
File
sharing systems overcome the issues of scale by providing your computer with a
client which reports your files to a server which manages the peer connections.
All
operating systems since the early 90’s have offered a peer-based element. It is
now possible to create peer connections with all operating.
The advantages of peer-to-peer over client-server include:
- No need for a network
administrator
- Network is
fast/inexpensive to setup & maintain
- Each PC can make backup
copies of its data to other PCs for security.
- Easiest type of network to
build, peer-to-peer is perfect for both home and office use.
But the disadvantage for peer to peer is Another disadvantage to end users can be that viruses are available on the majority of peer to peer programs and usually the virus is masked as a music or video file this in turn can severely damage computers and in some cases the computer will not turn on.
Client-Server Network
As
opposed to the peer-to-peer system, a client-server system has central control
and management, which allows a considerably larger number of devices to become
part of the system.
Examples
of client-server systems are wide-ranging and diverse. Some examples include:
·
Web
server being accessed by many clients (the client being the web browser)
·
Many
online gaming systems
·
The
file server at work or your centre of learning which is accessed via Windows
Explorer.
·
MSM,
Skype and other communication systems.
To
operate, a client-server system must have different operating systems and
computers for the client and the server. The client can be implemented on most
standard operating systems. It can be very small in software terms but must
allow network or internet access. It can run on a lower-specification computer
system.
The
server must run on a network operating system (or one which supports multiple
connections and processes). It may need a system with a higher-specification
computer (multiple processors, more memory, and larger hard drives) and it
needs a better quality network/internet connection as it will be busier.
Client-server allows the installation of anti-virus on a dedicated server, this means that all stations that are connected to that server are protected against viruses. In peer to peer, each station has to be installed with the anti-virus. Because peer to peer allows the sharing of files it is possible that some files are infected and because anti-virus is not as effective on peer to peer, the virus would get in and disrupt the network.
The disadvantages for client-server network are that one, server can get overloaded, generally more expensive than the peer to peer and that its more difficult to set up than the peer to peer.
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